- the rocket is launched on a 7-axle transport-erector launcher car (probably looks similar to the earlier photos that experts thought to be the car for the DF-41 ICBM)- launch preparation time is only 12 hours- Liftoff mass 30 tonnes- LEO payload 400+ kg- Nominal satellite working orbit at 300+ km altitude; requires propulsion for orbit keeping- KZ-1's optical resolution is 1.2 m- KZ-2, with a much higher resolution down to 0.3m, will be launched next year- KZ-1 made orbital adjustments to observe the aftermaths of the Sep. 24 Pakistan earthquake, with satisfactory results

One note of interest is that per another Chinese forum member's observations, the orbital adjustments by KZ-1 on Sep. 27 did actually provide a straight down observation opportunity of Pakistan on Sep. 30; had it not done so it won't have any possible observation opportunity of the area till now within 45 degrees from the nadir.

How sure are we that it's the same as this photo from CASIC? The first three sections of the rocket (between the horizontal stripes) look similar in length and ratios between each other, but it's hard to tell about the upper section. It appears to have been painted back (or another dark color) above the third horizontal stripe. And it appears to be a different rocket than what was shown in the previous photos presumed to be the KT-1:http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=32914.0;attach=544586;image

I'm curious about people's thoughts on the launch platform the Kuaizhou seems to be going off in the image from September. It looks like the rocket is shorter and narrower than the platform, and it looks like the platform has a conical shape to the upper edge. It's not clear if that's the rocket's nosecone or the platform it's on. It doesn't appear to me that the rocket is that tall (based off the CASIC photos) but I guess it could be.

It's clearly a different rocket than the DF-21C used here, but the overall silhouette of the launching platform with rocket attached is very similar to that of the raised DF-21C TEL:

What impact does the differences in sizes of the stages of the image released by CASIC have on the theory that this is somehow derived from the DF-21 program?

Let's compare photos of KZ launch pad after "launch" on March 17, 2012 and photos after launch on September 25, 2013.You can see clear traces from tires of mobile car and clear traces from rocket's flame on photos made on October 9 and December 13, 2013 (after a launch on September 25, 2013).But you can see only clear traces from tires of mobile car on photos made on March 25 and 28, 2012 (after a "launch" on March 17, 2012). There are not traces from rocket's flame on them.So I think there was not a launch in March 2012.Or maybe Chinese have cleaned traces from rocket's flame on the launch pad...

I somehow missed the March 2012 launch. Does someone have a link about what happened and what the speculation is?

Also I just wanted to let everyone know that I recently published an in-depth analysis of the mysterious May 2013 "sounding rocket" launch from Xichang in which I conclude it was likely an ASAT test. Moreover, the Kuaizhou launch vehicle may be a candidate for that launch as well:

Let's compare photos of KZ launch pad after "launch" on March 17, 2012 and photos after launch on September 25, 2013.You can see clear traces from tires of mobile car and clear traces from rocket's flame on photos made on October 9 and December 13, 2013 (after a launch on September 25, 2013).But you can see only clear traces from tires of mobile car on photos made on March 25 and 28, 2012 (after a "launch" on March 17, 2012). There are not traces from rocket's flame on them.So I think there was not a launch in March 2012.Or maybe Chinese have cleaned traces from rocket's flame on the launch pad...

Let's compare photos of KZ launch pad after "launch" on March 17, 2012 and photos after launch on September 25, 2013.You can see clear traces from tires of mobile car and clear traces from rocket's flame on photos made on October 9 and December 13, 2013 (after a launch on September 25, 2013).But you can see only clear traces from tires of mobile car on photos made on March 25 and 28, 2012 (after a "launch" on March 17, 2012). There are not traces from rocket's flame on them.So I think there was not a launch in March 2012.Or maybe Chinese have cleaned traces from rocket's flame on the launch pad...

Nobody is interested? Okay.

Good point Andrey. The March 2012 launch was always in doubt about his existence. Maybe they have put the rocket on the launch complex, but something didn't work our even before the launchers ignition.

Thought it might be of interest to note an update on the Kuaizhou-1 satellite after almost 9 months in orbit.It made its 14th orbit maintenance burn on Jun 3 and remains orbiting in a band between 262 x 292 km and 290 x 330 km.(orbit on Jun 13 was 286 x 308 km).

It shows a striking resemblance to NASA's WIRE small explorer satellite, so i am not sure about is authenticity. But on the other hand, the service module is nearly the same as that shown on the Kuaizhou-2 illustration (see Kuaizhou-2 thread), although with a different imaging payload.